Alma’s people and Limhi’s people had similar journeys. Both groups covenanted with God to obey His commandments. (See Mosiah 18:8-16, Mosiah 21:31-34.) Both fell captive to the Lamanites for a period of time. (See Mosiah 19:28, Mosiah 23:36-38.) Both were miraculously delivered and reunited with the Nephites in Zarahemla. (See Mosiah 22, Mosiah 24:16-25.)
These parallel stories can help us understand how to strengthen our relationship with God, how to deal effectively with adversity, and how God ultimately delivers His people.
Here are some things I’ve learned from these chapters:
Outline
- Mosiah 18 – Alma teaches, baptizes, and establishes the church.
- Mosiah 19 – King Noah is killed and his people are conquered.
- Mosiah 20 – The Lamanites attack Limhi’s people. Gideon and Limhi talk with the king and restore peace.
- Mosiah 21 – Limhi’s people try and fail three times to overcome the Lamanites. They humble themselves, and a search party arrives from Zarahemla
- Mosiah 22 – Limhi and his people escape
- Mosiah 23 – Alma and his people establish a city, fall captive to the Lamanites
- Mosiah 24 – Alma and his people escape
Key Themes
- When we are baptized we promise to lighten people’s burdens and to stand as witnesses of God.
- Places where we have spiritual experiences can become special to us.
- When your motives are pure, you are more likely to work with your whole heart.
- Authority is a mechanism for transferring trust from one person to another.
- Trials enable us to prove ourselves and to become stronger.
- We can calm our fears by turning to the Savior and trusting in his delivering power.
- Patience and faith go together. Faith would not be worth very much if it were transient, lasting only a short period of time.
Connections
- The apostle Paul told the Colossians that he hoped their hearts would be “knit together in love” (Colossians 2:2). Alma used the same phrase as he organized the church at the waters of Mormon (Mosiah 18:21).
- Paul counseled the Galatians not to return to the sins which had previously limited their liberty: “Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage (Galatians 5:1). Alma used that same phrase to counsel his people against having a king, after escaping from King Noah. (See Mosiah 23:13.)
- Pharaoh made the lives of the Israelites miserable by appointing taskmasters “to afflict them with their burdens” (Exodus 1:11). Amulon did the same to Alma’s people. (See Mosiah 24:9). We should strive to decrease people’s burdens, not increase them.
Applications
- As you minister to others, keep it simple, cultivate unity, reach out frequently, be unselfish, and share what you uniquely have to offer.
- Follow your conscience when you’re pressured to do something wrong, especially when there is a sense of urgency in the request.
- When you do something wrong, have the courage to confess and face the social consequences of what you have done.
- Assume positive intent and give others the benefit of the doubt wherever possible.
- Learn from your failures, and change your tactics as needed.
- Before making decisions, seek input from those who will be affected.
- Recognize and champion other people’s ideas.
- Speak up when your words can make a difference.
- We need to express gratitude, not just feel it.
Recommended Posts
- Did Alma Baptize Himself?
- Why Did Ammon Consider Himself Unworthy to Baptize?
- What Should I Do When My Prayers Aren’t Answered?
Blog Posts: May 21-26
The Waters of Mormon
The waters of Mormon were a beautiful place for those who “came to the knowledge of their Redeemer” there. We can all be grateful for sacred places, including our church buildings, where we have been able to grow closer to God.
Bearing Burdens
Three lessons about carrying burdens from Alma’s people and Limhi’s people: 1. Burdens are lighter when we carry them together. 2. Sometimes, we need to accept our burdens gracefully. 3. A burden can be a blessing.
“See, Here Is Water”
The eunuch said to Peter, “See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?” Alma made a similar invitation to his people. We can emulate this action-orientation in our daily decisions by acknowledging what’s possible and identifying roadblocks.
Prospering by Degrees
God was slow to hear the prayers of the people of Limhi, but they did begin “to prosper by degrees.” God’s blessings often come incrementally, so if we’re looking for the big blessing, we may miss the small ones that come along the way.
Gideon
Lessons from Limhi’s servant Gideon: 1. You don’t have to be in a position of authority to be a leader. 2. Speak up when you have a good idea or when something isn’t right. 3. Give people the benefit of the doubt. 4. Defend the truth, and defend freedom.
Captivity and Deliverance: Limhi and Alma
Both Alma’s and Limhi’s people fell captive to the Lamanites and were both delivered by God. From their examples, we can learn to pray humbly, to recognize the blessings God provides immediately, and to look forward to the deliverance He will provide.
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